MAYAN LEGEND…. The “Canancol”….

The “Canancol”….

It counts me, Don Nico: why puts that doll with that stone in the hand in the middle of his milpa (Seeded land area of corn )? , I asked a day to old man agriculturist. Its face cheered up as a child with a smile, whereas it answered to me: I know that you do not create, but I will say to him: I am poor, very poor and I do not have who helps me to take care of milpa, because almost always when the harvest arrives, they rob the fruit to me of my efforts. This doll that sees is not a common doll; he is something more; when it arrives the night takes forces and makes the rounds by the entire cultivated field; he is my crew member… Canancol is called and been part mine, because it takes my blood. To only it obeys me… I am his master. Don Nico continued saying: After the burning fire of milpa two diagonals draw up in her to indicate the centre; milpa of the side of Lakín is oriented (East) and the entrance is in that direction. Finished this, that always he must do it men (wizard) takes the necessary wax from nine beehives, as much just to cover Canancol, that will have a size related to the extension of milpa. After made the doll, the eyes are placed to him, that are two kidney beans; their teeth are corn and their nails, ibes (white kidney beans); one gets dressed in holoch (brácteas that covers the corn-cobs). Canancol will be seated on seven pieces of cream stone and a shell stone will be its seat … It will be necessary, also, a reddish stone… that will be its weapon

Nine pieces of yucca will be necessary for the organs. Whenever the wizard puts one of those organs to the doll, he will call to four good winds and he will request to them that they are benevolent with (here the name of the master of milpa is said), and it will say to him, in addition, that he is the unique thing whereupon it counts to feed its children. Finished the rite, the doll is magic with grass and presented to the God Sun and dice in offering to the God of rain; scent grass burns itself and anise and maintains the sacred fire by space of one hour; meanwhile, the wizard distributes between the contenders balché (that is a very alcoholic drink obtained of the Honey, in order that the humans do not realize slope of the Gods to the Earth. This is thing that only men see. The ceremony must take to effect when the sun is in means sky. When arriving this hour, the wizard gives one cut to the finger of the master of milpa expresses, it and drops nine drops of blood in a hole practiced in the right hand of the doll, hole that arrives until the elbow. They men closes the orifice of the hand of the doll, and with imperative voice and gesturing to more not being able, he says to this one: Today your life begins. This (indicating to the owner), he is your gentleman and master. Obedience, Canancol, obedience… That the Gods will punish to you if you do not fulfill. This milpa is yours. You must punish to the intruder and the thief. Here it is your weapon. And in the act it places in the right hand of the doll a reddish stone. During the burning fire and the growth of milpa Canancol is covered with palms with huano; but when the fruit begins to blunt, it is discovered… and it counted simple people that wicked or the thief that tries to rob receives stone blow mortals. It is reason why in milpas where there is Canancoles never they rob nothing. This belief, that is so firm if by that one time and place is wounded some animal, it takes the blame to Canancol. The owner, when arriving at milpa, takes his precautions and before entering been suitable signal whistles to him three times; slowly one comes near to the doll and it clears the stone to him of the hand; all the day works, and when fhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifalling the night, returns to place the stone in the hand of Canancol, and when leaving it whistles again. When the night falls, Canancol crosses the cultivated field and is one that assures that to entertain itself, it whistles like the deer. After the harvest hanincol (eaten of milpa) in honor becomes of Canancol; finished the ceremony the doll melts and the wax is used to make candles, that are burned or in the pagan altar, or in the Christian altar. And the old man was silent after to have spoken with accent of perfect believer.

Legend taken from the book " The soul of Campeche in the legend maya"

Elsie Encarnación Medina E.